What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes Mellitus is a group of conditions that affects how your body will utilize sugar i.e. glucose. Glucose is the main fuel that generates the energy your body requires. There are different types of Diabetes, each having a set of causes. However, the baseline remains the same: too much glucose in your bloodstream will create nerve damage, circulation problems, and infections.
Diabetes can affect your feet in two ways:
Diabetic Neuropathy
High sugars cause damage to the nerves-the electrical system of your body. Due to the damaged nerves, one cannot feel pain in the feet or legs. The lack of feeling is known as sensory diabetic neuropathy. Besides, you might not feel the cut or sore feet, which can also lead to severe infection.
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Diabetes causes a lack of blood flow, resulting in slow healing from any wounds, cuts, or blisters. The lack of blood flow in the arms and legs is known as peripheral vascular disease. In specific conditions, if the wound does not heal due to the absence of blood flow, there is a high chance of developing an infection that progresses to ulcers and gangrene.
Types of Damage in Diabetic Foot
Diabetes foot infection develops due to multiple causes. The most common ways are:
Blood Vessel Damage
Diabetes will damage the blood vessels in the lower feet and deposits calcium in the large and small vessels of the leg and foot, making it difficult for the blood to flow freely.
Nerve Damage
Damaged nerves in the feet/leg could lead to severe problems. Reduced touch and sensation can cause injuries to go unnoticed, often leading to infection and nonhealing wounds.
Infection
Diabetics are prone to infections. It is crucial to keep checking your blood sugar levels consistently and maintain a log of them. These infections are primarily due to bacteria and fungal elements.
Start looking after your health and get your blood pressure and sugar levels in control to prevent other diseases from developing
What is a “Diabetic Foot”
A diabetic foot is the result of a combination of the above factors. It typically involves loss of shape and stability in the foot and may be associated with developing wounds that can be very difficult to heal. It needs specialized assessment and management by Diabetic Foot Specialist in Bangalore to identify the cause and limit and treat the problem. Left untreated, the diabetic foot can progress to amputation and even loss of life.
What are the signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Foot?
If you have Diabetes, you need to keep an eye on any out-of-ordinary symptoms. Below-mentioned is some symptoms of a Diabetes-related foot problem.
- Change in skin color and texture
- Swelling in the foot
- Cramps in the legs and feet
- Slow healing of wounds
- Corns or calluses
- Ingrown toenails
- Pain in the thighs or ball of the leg while walking
- Pus/pain and redness in a wound. These are danger signs and need urgent attention.
How can Diabetic Foot Related problems be prevented?
Tips to Protect and Prevent Developing a Diabetic Foot
Proper foot care can prevent and slow down the development of problems. Here are some tips provided by the Diabetic foot care hospital in Bangalore you can follow to maintain the diabetic foot.
- Keep your blood sugar levels in control. Follow the advice given by a Diabetic foot specialist in Bangalore related to nutrition, exercise, and medication religiously.
- Wash your feet every day with warm water, especially between the toes. Do not soak your feet for a long period and dry your feet properly.
- During the winter months, the skin becomes dry. Moisturize your feet regularly.
- Stay active. Indulge in activities like swimming and walking to maintain the blood flow.
- Wear shoes and socks that are comfortable. Wearing tight-fitting shoes will prevent blood flow.
- If you have poor blood flow, then keep checking your feet for blisters, sores, or infections to the Diabetic foot care hospital in Bangalore, and be very careful to avoid any injuries.
- Avoid walking barefoot. Wear enclosed toe shoes or slippers that offer comfort. There are extra wide shoes available in the specialty stores. Be especially careful when visiting temples on hot days-walking barefoot when your feet cannot feel the heat can cause severe damage to your feet.
- Trim your toenails frequently and carefully. If you cannot see well -get it done professionally or by a family member.
- If you are a regular smoker, STOP RIGHT THERE.
International Publications on Arterial Disease
- Peak systolic velocity ratio derived from quantitative vessel analysis for restenosis after femoropopliteal intervention: a multidisciplinary review from Endovascular Asia. July 2019. Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics 35(1):1-10. DOI: 10.1007/s12928-019-00602-z
- Dabigatran in patients with myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MANAGE): an international, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. June 2018.The Lancet 391(10137):2325-2334.DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30832-8
- Contemporary critical limb ischemia: Asian multidisciplinary consensus statement on the collaboration between endovascular therapy and wound care. April 2018. Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics 33(4 Suppl). DOI: 10.1007/s12928-018-0523-z
- Vascular Disease in Asia & India- in need of a paradigm shift. Indian Journal of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery.2017 4(4):143
- Non traumatic acute limb ischemia-presentation, evaluation and management. Indian Journal of Vascular& Endovascular Surgery 2017. 4(4) 192-7
- Surgical and endovascular treatment of occlusive aortic syndromes. J Cardiovasc Surg. (Torino). 2013 Feb;54 (1 Suppl 1):55-69.
- Acute thrombosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting with lower limb ischaemia. ANZ J Surg. 2011 Dec;81(12):945-6
- Do Doppler waveforms at the common femoral artery accurately predict iliac stenosis? Ir J Med Sci. 2010 Jul 27.
- An audit of foot infections in patients with diabetes mellitus following renal transplantation. International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. 2004 Sep;3(3):157-60
